A statement read: ‘Catholic Memorial School is deeply disturbed by the behavior of a group of student spectators who made an unacceptable chant Friday.’
Photograph: Alamy

A Catholic high school in Boston has condemned the “unacceptable behaviour” of some of its supporters after fans chanted “You killed Jesus” during a basketball game against a rival school with a large number of Jewish students.

About 100 young men sitting in the student section during the game between Catholic Memorial school – a private all-boys school in West Roxbury – and Newton North high school responded to chants of “Sausage fest” by shouting “You killed Jesus, you killed Jesus.”

Catholic Memorial beat Newton North 77-73 in a division title game on Friday night. The game was played at Newton South high school. According to the Washington Post, Newton North high school has a large Jewish community of students, and some of the witnesses said they found the chants alarming.

A statement from the school read: “Catholic Memorial School is deeply disturbed by the behavior of a group of student spectators who made an unacceptable chant Friday night while playing Newton North high school.”

“CM faculty and staff acted immediately to stop the behavior. Administrators from both schools and representatives from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association discussed the incident. At the conclusion of the game, CM students were reprimanded and each student personally apologized to the principal of Newton North high school and shook his hand before leaving the arena.

“We have been the subject of hurtful chants as well, and we will work diligently within our own community and with other schools to end this abhorrent behavior. Catholic memorial school believes deeply that intolerance, of any kind, is unacceptable. We apologize for the actions of our students and we will continue to strenuously address this issue within our community.

Robert Trestan, the Anti-Defamation League’s New England regional director, said his body was “very concerned” at the chants, but hoped it could be used as a “teachable moment”.

“We are very concerned why some fans thought this chant was appropriate for a high school basketball game,” Trestan said in a statement. “Hate speech has no place in the stands of any sporting event. We are grateful for the quick intervention by school officials and hope they use this as a teachable moment.”